The combination of gun ownership and new technology has made 3D-printed guns a hot topic. For people living in Georgia, whether you love guns, enjoy technology, or are just a concerned citizen, understanding the laws is very important. We are here to give you a clear, complete guide to the laws about 3D-printed guns in Georgia as of 2025. This article will break down the complicated mix of federal and state rules to give you the information you need.
The Short Answer for 2025
As of 2025, it is generally legal in Georgia for a person who is allowed to own guns to make their own 3D-printed gun for personal use. However, this legality has many details and depends on several important factors.
The main things that determine if it's legal are a mix of federal and state law. We must think about the legal status of the person making the gun, what the gun will be used for (personal use versus selling it), and the specific type of gun being made. While Georgia's state laws are fairly open, federal rules provide a strict framework that every gun maker must follow.
Disclaimer: This article provides information for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Gun laws are complicated and can change. We strongly recommend talking with a qualified attorney in Georgia for advice about your specific situation.
Understanding Key Terms
To understand the legal discussion, we must first know what the terms mean. The language used by lawmakers and government agencies is precise, and knowing these definitions is important.
Ghost Guns vs. PMFs
You have probably heard the term "ghost gun" in news reports and public debates. This is a casual term used to describe a gun that does not have a commercial serial number, making it hard for police to trace. In recent years, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has moved to standardize the language. The official term now used in federal rules is "Privately Made Firearm," or PMF. A PMF is any gun, including one made with a 3D printer, that is put together by a person rather than a licensed manufacturer. The main issue, legally and practically, is the lack of a manufacturer-applied serial number.
Which Parts Are Printed?
A modern gun is made of many parts, but not all of them are legally considered the "firearm." When we talk about 3D-printed guns, we are most often talking about 3D printing the gun's frame or receiver. Under federal law, the frame or receiver is the single part that is legally defined and regulated as the gun itself. This is the part that holds the firing mechanism and to which other parts, like the barrel and stock, attach. Therefore, printing a frame or receiver is legally the same as making a gun. Other parts like grips, stocks, or sights can also be printed, but they do not carry the same legal weight as the frame or receiver.
Federal Law on PMFs
Before we look at Georgia's specific laws, we must understand the federal rules that apply to every citizen in the United States. Federal law, mainly enforced by the ATF, sets the baseline for what is and is not allowed when it comes to Privately Made Firearms.
Making Guns for Personal Use
A common question is whether it's legal to make your own gun at home. Under federal law, the answer is yes, with important conditions. The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) allows a person who is not prohibited from having guns to make a gun for their own personal use. This person does not need to be a licensed manufacturer (an FFL) to do so. This long-standing rule is the foundation that allows for the legal creation of PMFs, whether through a traditional milling machine or a modern 3D printer. The gun must be for personal use only and cannot be made with the plan to distribute or sell.
The Intent-to-Sell Rule
The difference between personal use and commercial activity is the clearest line in federal gun law. If you make a gun with the plan to sell it, you are considered to be "engaging in the business" of making guns. This activity requires a Federal Firearms License (FFL). Making and selling even a single 3D-printed gun without the proper license is a federal felony. The ATF looks closely at factors such as the number and frequency of guns made and sold to determine if someone has crossed the line from a hobbyist to an unlicensed dealer or manufacturer.
Federal Serial Number Rules
An important area of recent legal development is serial numbers. The ATF's Final Rule 2021R-05F, often called the "Frame or Receiver Rule," updated rules surrounding PMFs. It's important to understand what this rule does and does not do. As of 2025, federal law does not require a person to put a serial number on a PMF they have made and plan to keep for their own personal use.
However, the rule requires serial numbers in specific situations:
- If a licensed dealer or gunsmith (an FFL) takes a PMF into their inventory for any reason (such as for repair or consignment), they are required to put a serial number on it according to ATF specifications.
- If you, the original maker of the PMF, later decide to sell or transfer the gun, you must do so through an FFL. That FFL is then required to put a serial number on the gun before completing the transfer to the new owner.
In short, a PMF can remain without a serial number as long as it stays with its original, non-prohibited maker.
Who Cannot Make Guns?
The right to make a gun is not universal. Federal law identifies several categories of "prohibited persons" who are legally banned from having or making any gun, including PMFs. Trying to make a 3D-printed gun as a prohibited person is a serious federal crime. These categories include, but are not limited to:
- Anyone convicted of a felony (or any crime punishable by more than one year in prison)
- People running from justice
- Unlawful users of or people addicted to a controlled substance
- Anyone judged as mentally defective or who has been committed to a mental institution
- People who have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces
- Anyone who has given up their U.S. citizenship
- People subject to a court order keeping them from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner
- Anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
Georgia's State-Specific Laws
With the federal framework understood, we can now focus on Georgia. A state's laws can add more restrictions on top of federal law, but they cannot override it. In Georgia, the legal environment for PMFs is defined more by the lack of specific prohibitions than by a set of clear regulations.
Georgia's Position on PMFs
As of early 2025, the Georgia General Assembly has not passed any state-level laws that specifically ban or regulate the making or possession of 3D-printed guns, PMFs, or "ghost guns" for people who are legally allowed to own guns. This means that, for the most part, Georgia's law on this subject defers to the existing federal framework. If your activity is legal under federal law (i.e., you are a non-prohibited person making a gun for personal use), it is generally legal under Georgia law as well. There is no state-level requirement in Georgia for you to register or put a serial number on a PMF you make for personal use.
Georgia's Prohibited Persons
Georgia maintains its own laws that define who is prohibited from having a gun within the state. These laws largely mirror the federal categories but are written in state code. The primary law is O.C.G.A. § 16-11-131, which makes it illegal for convicted felons and certain first offender probationers to have a gun. This state law runs parallel to the federal prohibition, meaning a convicted felon in Georgia would be violating both state and federal law by making or having a 3D-printed gun. It's essential to follow both sets of regulations.
Carrying a PMF in Georgia
Georgia is a "constitutional carry" state, meaning that a lawful weapons carrier is not required to have a permit to carry a handgun, openly or concealed. A "lawful weapons carrier" is anyone who is not prohibited by state or federal law from having a gun. This right would extend to a legally made and possessed Privately Made Firearm. If you can legally make and own the PMF, you can generally carry it in the same way and in the same places you could carry a commercially made gun, subject to all other applicable laws about the time, place, and manner of carrying weapons.
Federal vs. Georgia Law
To provide maximum clarity, it is helpful to see the legal requirements side-by-side. This comparison highlights how federal and state laws interact on the topic of 3D-printed guns in Georgia.
Key Questions Compared
| Legal Aspect | Federal Law (2025) | Georgia State Law (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Making for Personal Use | Generally legal for non-prohibited persons. | Generally legal; defers to federal law. |
| Requirement for Serial Numbers | Not required for personal use. Required if transferred through an FFL. | No state-level requirement for serial numbers. |
| Making with Intent to Sell | Illegal without a Federal Firearms License (FFL). A felony. | Illegal, as it violates federal law. |
| Possession by Prohibited Person | Illegal. A felony for persons like convicted felons. | Illegal. A felony under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-131. |
| Specific Ban on "Ghost Guns" | No outright ban, but regulated as PMFs. | No specific state-level ban. |
Practical Examples for 2025
To translate these laws into real-world context, let's explore a few hypothetical scenarios. These examples help show how the rules apply to common situations.
Scenario 1: The Hobbyist
John is a Georgia resident with a passion for technology and shooting sports. He has a clean criminal record. He uses his 3D printer to create a pistol frame and then puts together a complete, working handgun using a combination of other printed parts and commercially purchased parts. He plans to keep the gun for himself and use it at his local shooting range.
In this scenario, John's actions are likely legal. He is not a prohibited person, and he is making the gun for his personal use, which is allowed under both the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 and Georgia state law. He is not required to put a serial number on the gun as long as he keeps it for himself.
Scenario 2: The Seller
Mary is a skilled 3D printer operator in Georgia. She prints five Glock-style frames and puts them together into complete pistols. She then sells these guns to her friends for cash to make a profit. Mary does not have a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
Mary's actions are illegal. By making guns with the plan to sell them, she is engaging in the business of making guns without a license. This is a serious federal felony, regardless of Georgia's lack of specific state laws on the matter. The act of selling turns a personal project into an unlicensed commercial business.
Scenario 3: The Prohibited Person
A person living in Georgia was convicted of a felony five years ago. They have served their time but are still considered a "prohibited person" under the law. They download a CAD file for a gun and use a friend's 3D printer to create a receiver.
This is illegal. The person's status as a prohibited person makes it a violation of both federal law and Georgia's O.C.G.A. § 16-11-131 for them to have or make any gun. The method of making—whether it's 3D-printed or acquired in any other way—does not matter. The simple act of creating or having the gun is the crime.
Conclusion and Key Points
Understanding the laws around are 3d printed guns legal in georgia requires a clear understanding of your responsibilities under both federal and state regulations. As of 2025, the landscape is permissive for law-abiding hobbyists but carries severe penalties for misuse or illegal distribution.
Summary of Key Points
- In Georgia, it is generally legal for a non-prohibited person to make a Privately Made Firearm (PMF), including with a 3D printer, for personal use.
- It is a federal felony to make any gun, including a PMF, with the plan to sell it unless you hold a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
- Georgia has no specific state-level laws banning PMFs, so federal law serves as the primary regulatory framework.
- Federal and Georgia state laws strictly prohibit convicted felons and other prohibited persons from making or having any type of gun.
- You are not required by federal or Georgia law to put a serial number on a PMF you make and keep for personal use.
The Golden Rule: Talk to Experts
The world of gun law is complicated and constantly changing. This article serves as an educational guide, not as a substitute for professional legal advice. Before you decide to build any gun, we strongly urge you to talk with a qualified gun attorney in Georgia. An expert can provide advice tailored to your specific circumstances and ensure you remain in full compliance with all current laws, protecting you from unintended legal consequences. Understanding whether are 3d printed guns legal in georgia requires careful consideration of all applicable laws and regulations.